Quoted a home owner $4,000 for everything, install and delivery included.
10,000 square feet of mulch beds on his property.
125 cu. yds. at 4" deep
Does this sound right?
Would appreciate any help.

jhawk71

03-16-2005, 04:47 PM

How much are you paying for the mulch? Seems kinda low to me. You are only charging $32 per yard installed. Thats how much I pay for the mulch at my nursery.
Jhawk71

j fisher

03-16-2005, 04:47 PM

Sounds like your low to me. What's your cost for the mulch?

MudslinginFX4

03-16-2005, 05:10 PM

Even if your getting the mulch free it is too low. I am charging $56/yd installed right now and I'm paying 11. That means I'm making $45/yd profit. If I charged $32/yard installed that means I would be giving them a $13 discount plus the price of the mulch, don't see how you can make any money only charging that, atleast I can't here. If I were you I think I would have subbed it out to a blowing company and made me about $10 per yard profit and called it a day.

rodfather

03-16-2005, 05:28 PM

We did one a number of years ago that was 300 yards. Job went for about 20 grand if I remember right.

Gilla Gorilla

03-16-2005, 05:53 PM

Country

If I was you I would start hooping that I dont get the go ahead on this job. That is a LOT of humping mulch around for only making $12 to $21 per yard that you install.

I would hate to have to do all of that work for that little profit. How much are you paying for the mulch and how much is the delivery costing you per truck hauling it in?

Country Club

03-16-2005, 07:33 PM

Paying $10/ yard.
I thought it might be low; but the rest of the bid included different plantings and such that I could make more $ on.
Thanks for everyone's help.

mdb landscaping

03-16-2005, 08:38 PM

ya too low most def.

TerraVenture

03-16-2005, 08:43 PM

If you feel you are making money than go with that price. The question I have for everyone is who uses hardwood mulch. Up here in New England we only use softwood mulches, pine, cedar, and hemlock. For those who use hardwood do you have access to softwood? I pay anywhere from $20 to $32 per yard depending what supplier I use and what product I use.

Foz

03-16-2005, 09:10 PM

$7500.00.....you are way too low

lawncare3

03-16-2005, 09:28 PM

I am paying $35 a yard for hardwood, The red colored stuff still costs $23 a yard

LB1234

03-17-2005, 12:01 AM

Even if your getting the mulch free it is too low. I am charging $56/yd installed right now and I'm paying 11. That means I'm making $45/yd profit. If I charged $32/yard installed that means I would be giving them a $13 discount plus the price of the mulch, don't see how you can make any money only charging that, atleast I can't here. If I were you I think I would have subbed it out to a blowing company and made me about $10 per yard profit and called it a day.

How are you making a 45/yd profit? I believe you need to subtract vehicle expenses, payroll, etc. Y/N?

impactlandscaping

03-17-2005, 03:25 AM

Without extra site specifics, that would be an $8150.00- $ 8800.00 job here..don't worry, if you are making $$ at 4K, that's all that matters

packmate81

03-17-2005, 10:02 PM

Id come down and intall the job for you with a blower truck for $27/yd
ill include the bark, install, and cleanup in that price.
just tell me where to pick it up.

MudslinginFX4

03-17-2005, 10:43 PM

How are you making a 45/yd profit? I believe you need to subtract vehicle expenses, payroll, etc. Y/N?

FINE THEN.... I'M BRINGING IN 45 DOLLARS AFTER WHAT THE MULCH COST ME. you know what I meant.

ks921

03-17-2005, 11:30 PM

I'm in Nashville, Tn. and I charge $50 per cu. yd. I get my throat cut by other "landscapers" every week charging $30 per cu. yd. I can't charge any less and it be worth doing.

SIBILA'S LANDSCAPING

03-18-2005, 12:08 AM

here in md it goes for $100.00 A yard I would not do it any cheaper then that.Plus edging is extra.

LB1234

03-18-2005, 12:16 AM

FINE THEN.... I'M BRINGING IN 45 DOLLARS AFTER WHAT THE MULCH COST ME. you know what I meant.

That's why I asked...lol

chuckers

03-18-2005, 01:45 AM

7875 instaled just mulch. and I am not but 1 hr away from you.

Groundcover Solutions

03-18-2005, 02:54 AM

Id come down and intall the job for you with a blower truck for $27/yd
ill include the bark, install, and cleanup in that price.
just tell me where to pick it up.

That is dang cheap you can come do all my work for that price!! I can even sell my truck LOL... I charge 39 including bark and clean up. (price ranges for different jobs but that is average)

old dog

03-18-2005, 10:00 AM

FINE THEN.... I'M BRINGING IN 45 DOLLARS AFTER WHAT THE MULCH COST ME. you know what I meant.
His point is,the truck and tools used to do the job is part of the overhead.If you hire people,take all that off the profit too.Mulch in this area is a low margin
part of the business cause all people need is a pickup -or traiker ,wheelbarrow,
and shovel,fork,rake ,and broom.I can make far more mowing than messing with mulch.

packmate81

03-18-2005, 10:25 AM

yes i know....lol...

id be more than happy to come down and run with you anytime, to help or whatever....im about the dollar, and the way competion is on my other stuff i just like to keep things moving.

most of my installs are over 32/yd but i get a lot of landscpe supplies from chicago area, so it makes it worth it to do something....

gaulk

03-18-2005, 11:11 AM

Foz is right 7500 60$ per yard no edging we pay 14$ per yard

Groundcover Solutions

03-18-2005, 01:02 PM

yes i know....lol...

id be more than happy to come down and run with you anytime, to help or whatever....im about the dollar, and the way competion is on my other stuff i just like to keep things moving.

most of my installs are over 32/yd but i get a lot of landscpe supplies from chicago area, so it makes it worth it to do something....

99% of our work is from landscapers plus this is all we do. We are not affiliated with any landscaping company... Independently owned. We run four eb-60 trucks and we keep them pumping, still waiting to start things going this year!!!!

get rich

03-21-2005, 01:03 AM

I think your numbers are off, unless your doing a new beds at 4" deep. Most of my spring clean up jobs consits of 2" layer over last years faded and degraded mulch. Unless it's newly cut bed, then i'd do a 4" layer. Installed at $40-45 bucks a yard. Material cost is 18 a yard delivered. Figuring a guy can haul and spread about 2-3 yds an hour. That breaks down to a pretty good hourly after expenses. Depending on the how far ya haulin it around the yard. Bed edging i'd base it on an estimated rate of how much can you and or your guys edge in an hour times 40- 50 hourly rate. Don't forget the weed pre-emergence. Gotta keep the weeds and grasses outta that big of beds.
Good luck!

jkelton

03-22-2005, 09:01 PM

Groundcover Solutions,
You guys must be starting a little late this year on your season - our season started a few weeks ago, although the grass is just now starting to grow a little. I do not know about you guys up there, but we tend to see a big influx of business (or at least interest) in subbing out mulch work whenever the grass starts growing. How about you guys?

wally world III

03-22-2005, 09:14 PM

$ 7,735............. based on 119 yards

new2nash

03-23-2005, 08:08 AM

My bid would be $7,000 and that includes discounting due to the large volume. :)

Strawbridge Lawn

03-23-2005, 08:42 AM

I get my mulch for $25.00 incl tax and delivery, and charge $45 to $52 P/CY installed. I can typically do 3 Cy p/HR by myself. Large scale Beds with larger shrubs and few small flowers I can do about 4-5 CY p/Hr solo.
At $45.00 I get $56000.. You are charging $32.00 P/Cy ?? Seems very low.
I try to get around $25.00 p/Cy for an install rate.

Groundcover Solutions

03-23-2005, 02:39 PM

Groundcover Solutions,
You guys must be starting a little late this year on your season - our season started a few weeks ago, although the grass is just now starting to grow a little. I do not know about you guys up there, but we tend to see a big influx of business (or at least interest) in subbing out mulch work whenever the grass starts growing. How about you guys?
Yep I figure we well be rolling in a week or so! Last year we did not start till a week into april which just killed us. So hopefully we can get rolling a little sooner this year and maybe strech out the season a little. Also as soon as the grass starts growing we do get a good influx in biz I know the calls have picked up now that it is getting warmer.

tfilbert

04-05-2005, 08:14 AM

Did 100 cubic yards of hardwood yesterday. Used a bobcat for alot of it and it was an all day job for three men. Charged $6900.00. You are way to low.
Tim